Elko, Nevada was part of the last leg of the Post Office Department's transcontinental route. The New York City to Omaha, Nebraska, portion of the route had been in operation since May 1920. On September 8, 1920, the rest of the route, from Omaha to San Francisco, California was opened for airmail flights. Pilots traveled from on the route from Omaha to North Platte, Nebraska; Cheyenne, Rawlins and Rock Springs, Wyoming; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Elko and Reno, Nevada before landing in San Francisco. The initial westbound trip was made at the speed of 80 miles per hour and completed without a forced landing.